A BIRD’S EYE VIEW OF OUR UNIVERSITY FACTS AND FIGURES
Everything you wanted to know about Vrije Universiteit Brussel. Our place in Brussels and the broader international context. Our history and milestones: the basis for our values today. Who our students are, where they come from and what they are studying. How our alumni find their place on the job market. Academic and supporting staff: they are there for you every day. How our campuses not only grow but become futureproof. Which budgets finance leading research and what the results are. How innovation leads to patents, entrepreneurship and successful spin-offs. Where our university hospital UZ Brussel is and what pioneering science is carried out there. We continue to work together towards a sustainable university, committed to a better society.
#WEAREVUB
#WEAREVUB
OUR VALUES
• Warm
• Open
• Eager to learn
• Connected
• Inclusive
“THINKING MUST NEVER SUBMIT ITSELF, NEITHER TO A DOGMA, NOR TO A PARTY, NOR TO A PASSION, NOR TO AN INTEREST, NOR TO A PRECONCEIVED IDEA, NOR TO ANYTHING WHATSOEVER, EXCEPT TO THE FACTS THEMSELVES, BECAUSE FOR IT TO SUBMIT TO ANYTHING ELSE WOULD BE THE END OF ITS EXISTENCE.”
Henri Poincaré (1854-1912)
“STUDENTS MUST STUDY AND RESEARCHERS MUST CONDUCT RESEARCH FREE FROM RELIGIOUS, POLITICAL, OR ANY OTHER EXTERNAL OR INTERNAL PRESSURE. NO CENSORSHIP, AND NO SELF-CENSORSHIP EITHER.”
Jan Danckaert Rector
BRUSSELS: EASY ACCESS
BRUSSELS: BEATING HEART OF EUROPE
World’s largest press centre
• 1,313 accredited journalists
• 979 foreign journalists
• > 1.2 million inhabitants
• 30% of foreign origin
• 107 languages
• 4th most important business city in Europe
• > 2,000 international institution headquarters
• International decision-making centre
• EU & NATO headquarters
• 1st city in Europe for conferences
• Largest diplomatic community in Europe
BRUSSELS: OUR LIVING LAB
MAIN CAMPUS NEAR ULB*
BRUSSELS HEALTH CAMPUS @UZ BRUSSEL**
CONNECTED KNOWLEDGE CENTRES
• Welcoming policy for international students
• Individual and group study coaching
* ULB = Université Libre de Bruxelles
* * UZ Brussel = University hospital, ‘Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel’
“THE MAJOR CHALLENGES OF OUR TIME – CLIMATE CHANGE, THE ENERGY TRANSITION, THE CHALLENGES OF AI, AND ALSO: BETTER UNDERSTANDING OUR OWN BRAINS AND THEIR DYSFUNCTIONS – CAN ONLY BE TACKLED WITH THOROUGH KNOWLEDGE, NEW INSIGHTS AND HUMANISM AS OUR GUIDING PRINCIPLE.” OUR CHALLENGES
Jan Danckaert Rector of VUB
CAMPUSES
VUB Main Campus
A BIRD’S EYE VIEW
VUB Health Campus
VUB Usquare Campus
VUB Photonics Campus
FUTURE INVESTMENTS IN ELSENE AND JETTE
• 2026 EhB renovation (Jette) skillslab & laboratories for students
Libraries – Medical Library in Jette and Central Library in Etterbeek
369,447 Scholarly publications in the physical collection
11,147 Loans
498,140 Physical visits
80
Library information sessions
698,756 Scholarly publications in the digital collection
30,5 Staff members
73 Weekly opening hours: Medical Library (66.5 hours) and Central Library (64 hours)
895,321 Publications downloaded
560,975 Search queries
27 Group study rooms
645 Study seats
LEARNING AND INNOVATION CENTER
10,004 unique visitors (mid-April to end of September)
297,157 total visits (mid-April to end of September)
384 individual study seats spread across 6 floors
24 desktop computers (12 VUB / 12 ULB)
22 collaboration booths, accommodating 90 people in total Learning Theatre with capacity for 60-80 people
37 meeting rooms, ranging from 2 to 20-person capacity, totalling
220 seats
7 classrooms with modular pods, 3 managed by ULB, 4 managed by VUB. Combined capacity: 184 people
1 Board Room with capacity for
40 people Staff-only workspaces for 18 people
VUB DATA CENTRE
37,000 METRES
UTP CABLES
ELECTRICAL POWER BATTERIES
· Network + Minkels: 64 kW
· POD: 200 kW
COOLING CAPACITY OF 405 KW
Of which 210 KW for POD
FLOOR AREA 110 M³
TOTAL INVESTMENT 2,647,000 EUROS
Cooling & Electricity
Improvement IT installation POD Improvement buildings
Transfo & Emergency generator
ELECTRICAL POWER
EMERGENCY GENERATOR: 1.2 MW
ELECTRICAL POWER TRANSFORMER 1 MW
TOTAL NUMBER RACKS: 60
· Electricity: 5
· Supporting: 21
· IT: 34
SAFE LOCATION FOR SERVERS RESEARCH GROUPS
Installation in a rack
Connectivity: high-speed 10 Gbps and more for normal interfaces and 1 Gbps for out-of-band management
Secure access and fire protection
Availability monitoring as basic function
Performance monitoring
Backup & data recovery for virtual machines
RESEARCH PARK & INCUBATORS
www.vubtechtransfer.be
RESEARCHPARK ZELLIK
near UZ Brussel
further development of collaboration with companies
houses the Nexus Datacenter https://www.zone-researchpark.be/p/index.html
VUB -VIB BIO INCUBATOR BRUSSELS
on VUB main campus
with partner VIB
focus on biotech
in renovated Willy Van der Meeren units
operational since 2024
• move-in-ready lab and office spaces
• shared (lab) kitchen
• embedded in research ecosystem www.vubtechtransfer.be/bio-incubator-brussels-bib
created in 2019
located at Researchpark Zellik
large-scale living lab
2021: launch Smart Village Lab https://www.greenenergypark.be/
STARTLAB.BRUSSELS
at Usquare near VUB main campus
initialised by VUB and ULB
• Special program ‘For researchers’ started in 2024 startlab.brussels
VUB BUSINESS & TECHNOLOGY INCUBATOR - ICAB NV
near VUB main campus
focus on technology & engineering
high occupancy rate www.icabrussel.be
GREEN ENERGY PARK
HUMANISTIC SCULPTURE PARK
The Humanistic Sculpture park is a unique open-air museum with permanent and temporary art collections. All the artworks symbolise or question the values and philosophy of VUB.
Find your route and starting point here.
VUB-ULB ASSOCIATION PROJECTS
EVENTS
Graduation ceremony at Brussels’ Grote Markt
Pride parade, open-minded universities
St-Vé
Difference Day with joint VUB-ULB Honoris Causa for former president of PEN International Jennifer Clement and Indian journalist Ravish Kumar
RESEARCH
Joint PHDs ULB-VUB
FARI: AI for the Common Good Institute
SOCIETY
Cyclocross ULB-VUB
° Belgium
All ULB faculties offer courses in Dutch
° Brussels University Alliance (VUB-ULB) 2019 1830
° ULB, University in Brussels, French spoken
° VUB independent, with full programmes in Dutch
Start European University EUTOPIA
STUDENTS & EDUCATION
STUDENTS 2024-2025
STUDENTS BY FACULTY 2024-2025
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS 2024-2025
EXCHANGE STUDENTS
“INTERNATIONALISATION SITS AT THE CORE OF EVERYTHING WE AS A UNIVERSITY DO: FROM OUR STUDENTS AND STAFF, THROUGH TO OUR EDUCATION AND RESEARCH, TO OUR SOCIAL COMMITMENTS TOWARDS THE WIDER WORLD. OUR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS ARE AN IMPORTANT ELEMENT IN ENSURING ALL OF OUR STUDENTS BECOME WORLD CITIZENS. IN ADDITION, WE WANT TO STRENGTHEN OUR EMPHASIS ON THE INTERNATIONALISATION OF OUR EDUCATION AND RESEARCH, BY ELABORATING COLLABORATION WITHIN EUTOPIA AND WITH OUR STRATEGIC PARTNERS, AS THIS IS VITAL IN FURTHER REINFORCING OUR COMMITMENT AND REPUTATION AS AN INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY.”
Karin Vanderkerken, Vice-rector Internationalisation VUB
STUDENT HOUSING
1,540 VUB ROOMS
+/- 5,500 PRIVATEPARTNER ROOMS
INCLUSIVE UNIVERSITY
VUB WAS ONE OF THE FIRST UNIVERSITIES TO WELCOME WORKING STUDENTS
PARTICIPATION
• Students participate in rector elections
• 20% of students participate in student elections
21,12% SCHOLARSHIP STUDENTS
5.196
7,88% WORKING STUDENTS TRAJECT
FINANCIAL SUPPORT 2023-2024
• 10% of members of all VUB governing boards are students
OPEN CAMPUS
• Welcoming policy for international students
• Individual and group study coaching
• 1.715 VUB-grants for students who experience financial thresholds that may complicate their study path (€1.393.814 in total)
MELDPUNT - REPORT IT
• ‘Unwanted and inappropriate behaviour’: report it!
• For students and staff
FRATERNITIES
• The VUB has 49 recognised student fraternities
20,29% STUDENTS WHO ARE ALSO WORKING
SURVEY 2024-2025
72% of students is satisfied with VUB. *
* 9% very satisfied, 33% satisfied, 30% rather satisfied, 21% neutral, 5% rather dissatisfied, 1% dissatisfied and 1% very dissatisfied
“VUB IS MEETING THE GROWING DEMAND FOR INTERNATIONAL, DIGITAL, AND FLEXIBLE EDUCATION. WE OFFER TAILORED PROGRAMS FOR DIVERSE LEARNERS: FROM FIRST-YEAR UNIVERSITY STUDENTS TO PROFESSIONALS SEEKING TO UPDATE THEIR KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS IN RESPONSE TO EVOLVING JOB REQUIREMENTS. OUR PORTFOLIO INCLUDES SHORT COURSES WITH MICROCREDENTIALS, EXTENDED CONTINUING EDUCATION PROGRAMS, AND POSTGRADUATE STUDIES. IN BLENDED OFFERINGS WE COMBINE THE BEST OF ONLINE AND ON-CAMPUS EXPERIENCES.”
Nadine Engels, Vice-rector for Education and Student Affairs
VUB as the first university with 6 inclusive exam accomodations for all students, implemented in academy year 2023-2024:
- Sufficient time will be provided for every student during an exam
- Every student is allowed to use scrap paper during an exam
- Each student may use non-electronic earbuds during an exam
- Any student may make designations on the question sheet of an exam
- Any student may take (prescribed) medication during an exam
- Each exam will be provided in an inclusive format that enhances the readability and accessibility of an exam. That is, exams will be prepared in a suitably large,
serif font.
STUDENTS WITH REFLEX* STATUS 2023-2024
Developmental disorder: learning disorder
not Learning
* ReFlex stands for reasonable flexibility, involving adjustments to teaching and examination regulations. You can also get the ReFlex status for other reasons, For example, working students, student entrepreneurs, family caregivers, ...
INNOVATION IN EDUCATION
VUB AS AN URBAN ENGAGED UNIVERSITY
WHAT DO WE AIM FOR WITH OUR STUDENTS?
5 CORNERSTONES
OPEN-MINDED
COMMITMENT
CITIZENS OF THE WORLD
ATTITUDE OF FREE INQUIRY
READY FOR A PROFESSIONAL CAREER
HOW DO WE SHAPE
OUR EDUCATION?
7 INGREDIENTS
RESEARCH-INFORMED DIDACTICS
STUDENT OWNERSHIP
INTERDISCIPLINARITY
THOUGHTFUL BLEND
MULTILINGUALISM
OPEN AND CO-CREATIVE EDUCATION
LIFELONG LEARNING
INNOVATION IN EDUCATION
NEW Master
- Master of Science in het basisonderwijs (MILO, taught in Dutch)
Specialisations:
- Within the Master of Medicine in de specialistische geneeskunde: ‘Klinische farmacologie en farmaceutische geneeskunde’ (fac. GF, taught in Dutch)
- Within the Master of Science in European Governance: ‘Migration and Diversity’, ‘Data and Digitalization’, ‘Environment’, ‘Foreign and Security Policy’ and ‘Economy’ (IES)
Postgraduate programs
- Interuniversity certificate Critical Embedded Systems (fac. WE & UCLouvain)
“VUB HAS BUILT A TRADITION OF CONNECTING ACADEMIA AND SOCIETY, IN EDUCATION AS WELL AS IN RESEARCH.
EDUCATIONAL OFFERINGS THAT GIVE STUDENTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO HONE THEIR SOCIAL COMMITMENT AND RESPONSIBILITY AND ENABLE THEM TO USE THEIR KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS IN COMPLEX REAL-LIFE SITUATIONS, REFLECT OUR MISSION AND VISION ON EDUCATION.
Nadine Engels, Vice-rector for Education and Student Affairs
INNOVATION IN EDUCATION LEARNING AND INNOVATION CENTER
FUTURE PROOF INFRASTRUCTURE: LEARNING AND INNOVATION CENTER
Podcast Studio
A dedicated space equipped with microphones, recording software, and soundproofing to produce high-quality audio content. In education, it can be used by students and teachers to create engaging content, like interviews, or discussions. Integrating podcasts as an assignment encourages creativity, collaboration, and modern communication skills.
Collaboration Room
A dynamic learning space designed for flexibility and interaction. Begin with a plenary presentation before students split into smaller groups, each equipped with their own table and screen. Remote participants can join effortlessly via MS Teams, ensuring seamless collaboration. Content can be shared both from the instructor’s screen to the student screens and in reverse, fostering truly interactive learning experiences.
Step into a truly unique learning environment where images and videos are projected across all four walls, creating a fully surrounding visual experience. This space allows students to be virtually transported to historical landmarks, scientific settings, or cultural worlds. The immersive design boosts engagement, deepens understanding, and helps students retain complex concepts more effectively. Informal Complementing the formal learning spaces, the LIC also offers inviting areas for informal learning — places where students can collaborate, unwind, and share ideas. These environments play a vital role in fostering creativity, well-being, and meaningful peer-to-peer connections within the campus community.
Immersive 360° Room
INNOVATION IN EDUCATION
QE: A BRAND NEW FUTURE PROOF AUDITORIUM
New auditorium
Step into our state-of-the-art auditorium — a brand-new, 600-seat venue built for impactful learning experiences. With three large screens ensuring perfect visibility from every seat and crystal-clear audio from top-tier speakers, every lecture comes to life. Integrated cameras and microphones connected to Panopto make it easy to record and share sessions, so no one ever misses a moment of inspiration.
Digital exams
Our brand-new auditorium is designed for the future of digital education, featuring more than 250 conveniently placed power outlets — perfect for hosting large-scale digital exams in a single session. The dependable, high-performance infrastructure ensures smooth operations and opens exciting opportunities for smarter, more efficient exam management. With its gently tiered seating layout, students enjoy optimal comfort while maintaining fair and secure testing conditions.
INNOVATION IN EDUCATION AI4EDUCATION
AI4EDUCATION
AI and assessment: 4.684 course units were rigorously screened for potential impact of GenAI An automated scan systematically identified courses whose learning objectives and assessment criteria could potentially be compromised by the use of GenAI. Teaching staff is informed about the available support to adapt existing assessment and teaching strategies in response to AI developments.
VALIDITY OF ASSESMENT
AI-literacy: comprehensive support for students, teaching staff and programmes Teaching staff and students are offered support and resources to enhance their AI literacy.
NOVA ACADEMY
The collaboration between the universities of Ghent, Antwerp and VUB within “Nova Academy” was further perpetuated. The lifelong learning initiatives (postgraduates, micro-credentials, long-term and short-term courses, seminares and lectures) of the three universities was made visible on the common platform.
2020: 4,500 alumni request digital VUB-Alumni pass
2021: 2,500 alumni take part in VUB-Alumni Resit
23,367 alumni open one newsletter annually, 3/4 open 2 or more newsletters a year
4,511 alumni click on at least one article per newsletter
Graduates attending:
2018: 62%
85%
ENGAGEMENT
2020: 60% (Covid-19)
72%
9 recognised alumni associations (6 associations more than in 2018)
5,315 alumni members of a VUB-Alumni association
125 alumni are VUB-Mentor & Professionals
ALUMNI AND THEIR PROFESSIONAL LIVES
VUB STAFF
VUB STAFF
GENDER EQUALITY STAFF
GENDER EQUALITY IN RECRUITMENT AND CAREER PROGRESSION
44,3 of the researchers at VUB are women and 35,5% professors
MEASURES
THE INTEGRATION OF GENDER INTO RESEARCH & TEACHING
THERE IS NO SIGNIFICANT GENDER PAY GAP IN 2024 (WHEN ASSESSED WITHIN THE SAME JOB FUNCTION) GENDER EQUALITY PLAN
GENDER BALANCE IN LEADERSHIP AND DECISION-MAKING
University council: 38% women
Board of directors: 30% women
Academic council: 32% women
Research council: 52,5% women
Education council: 56,5% women
Innovation and valorisation council: 31% women
International policy council: 55,5% women
Student council: 47% women
WORKING FOR THE VRIJE UNIVERSITEIT BRUSSEL
Ethical and professional aspects
Enhancing the awareness around ethics and integrity rules in research practices
Stimulating equality and inclusion for all researchers
HUMAN RESOURCES
STRATEGY FOR RESEARCHERS
Training and development
Skills and competences for all researchers
Career development
Stimulating team development
Engaged leading in academic positions
Recruitment and selection
A toolkit to support academic recruitment and selection
Employer branding
Optimising the digital hiring process and its use
Monitoring HR data and OTM-R compliance
(OTM-R: Open, Transparant and Merit Based Recruitment)
Working conditions
An integrated and evidence informed health and well-being policy
Internationalisation and an optimal start at VUB
The “HR Excellence in Research” award is given to institutions that successfully implement the “Human Resources Strategy for Researchers” and make progress in implementing the principles.
STRATEGIC INSIGHT COMBINED WITH ANALYTICAL ABILITY
EXCELLENT COMMUNICATORS CREATIVE, IMPROVISATION SKILLS AND OUT-OF-THE-BOX THINKING
EXPERIENCED PLANNERS, PROJECT AND TIME MANAGERS
ADAPTED TO AN INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENT
RESEARCH & INNOVATION
RESEARCH & INNOVATION
41 LARGE RESEARCH GROUPS
55 ‘Regular’ Research Groups including 22 VUB-UGENT Alliance Research Groups
15 International Joint Research Groups
12 VUB-ULB Joint Research Groups
21 IOF GEARS (GROUPS OF EXCELLENCE IN APPLIED RESEARCH SUPPORTED BY VUB’S INDUSTRIEEL ONDERZOEKSFONDS)
€156,5 million TOTAL RESEARCH BUDGET
RESEARCH & INNOVATION
INVESTING IN THE FUTURE
Supported by vice-rectorate for RESEARCH and vice-rectorate for INNOVATION & INDUSTRY RELATIONS.
2,678 ACADEMIC AND SCIENTIFIC STAFF
2,140 DOCTORAL RESEARCHERS IN 3 DOCTORAL SCHOOLS
2
2,504
18 RESEARCH-COUNCILFUNDED INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH PROJECTS
46 RESEARCH-COUNCILFUNDED STRATEGIC RESEARCH PROJECTS
RESEARCH & INNOVATION 2024 BUDGET IN DETAIL
TOTAL RESEARCH BUDGET
€156,476,986
Private Sector Collaboration 2024
€15,404,824
Public Project Funding 2024
€81,729,749
VUB Own Research Budget 2024
€33,327,984
Scientific Research Fund 2024
€26,014,429
201 fellowships 79 mandates Fundamental & Strategic
FUNDAMENTAL RESEARCH AT VUB IS STRONGER THAN EVER, WITH RECORD NUMBERS OF ERC GRANTS AND OTHER PRESTIGIOUS GRANTS AT OUR UNIVERSITY. WE ARE PIONEERS IN DECARBONISATION TECHNOLOGIES, AI & ROBOTICS, STRUCTURAL BIOLOGY, PHOTONICS, DIABETES, BIOARCHEOLOGY,…
Pieter Ballon, Vice-rector Research VUB
SUCCESS IN EUROPEAN RESEARCH FUNDING
VRIJE UNIVERSITEIT BRUSSEL EXTENSIVELY UTILIZES HORIZON PROGRAMS AND IS HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL:
Under Horizon 2020 (2014-2020), researchers secured a total of 205 projects, amounting to €103.8 million in EU contributions.
Between 2021 and 2024, for Horizon Europe, the VUB has already obtained 158 projects (approximately €102,1 million in EU contribution)
VUB IS
• The 3d of all participating Belgian universities;
• The number ONE Brussels-based universities;
• Currently most successful in obtaining European Research Funding;
• Second in the international rankings with comparable universities, looking at european funding budget.
In 2024, VUB secured 5 European Reseach Council grants and 9 Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions including a COFUND project that will open opportunuities for 12 international postdoctoral fellowships with VUB as host.
Our university contributes to making the BrusselsCapital Region a European innovation leader, notably excelling in the number of scientific co-publications.
NEWLY EUROPEAN RESEARCH COUNCIL
GRANTS
In 2024, 5 excellent principal investigators will conduct novel curiosity-driven research at VUB. ERC grants are the most prestigious sources of funding for top-tier research in Europe.
3 ERC STARTING GRANTS
2 ERC CONSOLIDATOR GRANTS
INVESTING IN RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURE 2024
CORE FACILITIES & INFRASTRUCTURE PLATFORMS
Core facilities are autonomous units within the VUB that have highly qualified personnel and specialized equipment.
We make them available to the research community at economic prices. Also our infrastructure platforms open up research facilities, such as instruments, to the entire VUB research community.
VUB SUPPORT OF CORE FACILITIES: € 23 MILLION
GOAL: SHARED INFRASTRUCTURE TO FURTHER STRENGTHEN OUR RESEARCH
statistical-methodological support
microscopy
cell sorters
cleanroom for microfluidics
etc.
OVERVIEW
Brubotics Rehabilitation Research Center
In Vivo Cellular and Molecular Imaging
FlowCore
Materials Characterisation
Microlab
Support for Quantitative and Qualitative Research
INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH NETWORKS THAT TACKLE SOCIETAL CHALLENGES
AWARDED IN 2024
110,000/ YEAR 5 YEARS
· Brussels Centre for Urban Studies (BCUS), led by professor Bas Van Heur, focuses on urban engagement and societal impact through research on community infrastructures, public space, spatial justice, and urban futures. BCUS serves as a hub for inter- and transdisciplinary research, creating synergies between VUB research groups and non-academic stakeholders.
· Painless Lifestyle Network, led by professor Jo Nijs, addresses chronic pain, a global health burden, by combining expertise in lifestyle interventions and pain management. The network develops innovative clinical trials and implementation strategies aimed at improving outcomes for patients with musculoskeletal and cancer-related chronic pain, fostering a shift towards multimodal, personalized treatments.
· DESTINY, led by professor Maarten Messagie, is focused on accelerating the transition to a net-zero carbon society. This network unites research groups in energy technologies to develop and showcase sustainable solutions for decarbonization, with the Green Energy Park serving as a living lab for innovation and societal engagement.
· PRISM Network, led by professor Imke Baetens, is dedicated to advancing mental health and resilience across the lifespan. By integrating clinical, cognitive, and biological psychology, PRISM develops tailored prevention strategies, innovative assessments, and technology-enhanced interventions to address mental health challenges in youth and older adults.
· Brussels Interdisciplinary Reseach Centre on Migration and Minorities, led by professor Ilke Adam, builds on the success of BIRMM 1.0, enhancing the societal impact of migration research. With a multivocal board of stakeholders, BIRMM 2.0 addresses migration at multiple governance levels, promoting co-created research and science communication to influence policy and public discourse.
RESEARCH AWARDS A FEW HIGHLIGHTS 2024
MATHIEU VINKEN
was awarded the prestigious 5-yearly “Prize Dr. Monique Govaerts and Joseph Lepoix for the study of intoxications”, acknowledging his pioneering work in toxicology and the study of intoxication mechanisms.Foto: zie slide 58 vorige F&F editie
WIM THIERY
Awarded the “Laureate of the Academy” prize by KVAB for his significant contributions to climate science, particularly in modeling climate extremes and their societal impacts.
BRUBOTICS TEAM
Ellen Roels, Gabriel-Mathieu Van De Velde, Hendrik Cools, Niklas Steenackers, and Bram Vanderborght
received the Annual Prize for Science Communication from the Royal Flemish Academy of Belgium (KVAB) .
Received the
SAM MATTHEUS
FRONTIERS OF SCIENCE AWARD
Sam Mattheus was recognized for his outstanding contributions to mathematics.
Won the EOS Pipet prize 2024 because he solved a 85 year old mathematic problem.
Received an AXA Research Chair for her project “Water Quality Model for Climate Change Adaptation
ANN VAN GRIENSVEN
DAMYA LAOUI
honorary title of Commander in the Order of the Crown by King Philippe of Belgium.
“RESEARCH
NEEDS SOCIETY AS SOCIETY NEEDS RESEARCH. THIS IS WHY VUB INVESTS STRUCTURALLY IN THE SOCIETAL IMPACT OF ITS RESEARCH GROUPS”
Pieter Ballon
OUTREACH 2024
over 10.000 participants and visitors for our outreach activities in 2024
107.536 online visitors and reached audience via our digital channels in 2023-2024 (website, newsletter and social media (fb & instagram))
138 participants in our science communication training courses +141 participating researchers for the activities in 2024
7
new trainings for science outreach at VUB, organised several times in 2024, with 138 participants.
New courses are a.o. science outreach for a broad audience, introduction to science communication and explore the possibilities of citizen science
6000
CurieuCity - a Science and Arts festival by ULB and VUB
reached over 6000 visitors in Molenbeek, Vorst and the Marollen.
These festivals collaborated closely with local initiatives, were hosted in public spaces and shared science, arts and education activities with local Brussels communities.
OUTREACH VUB KINDERUNIVERSITEIT
Since its inception, VUB Kinderuniversiteit has aided VUB researchers in developing a total of 74 unique workshops!
https://vubkinderuniversiteit.be/
VUB Kinderuniversiteit brings academic research to a child-friendly level. Under the guidance of a professional team, children discover the secrets of our bodies, explore the fascinating world of microbes under a microscope, or delve into the meaning of happiness. Anything is possible.
2024
Campus Day: 138 students from 7 schools
Spring workshops: 200 pupils from 15 schools
Try outs during ‘Dag van de Wetenschap’: 40 children and parents
12 lead researchers and additional assisting colleagues
Total reach: 378
VUB Kinderuniversiteit developed togeher with Brubotics (imec/VUB) and Brighlab (imec/RVO Society) a ‘roboticabox’ for schools that can be lent through the 20 different Dutch speaking libraries in Brussels
“AT VUB, WE COMBINE CUTTING-EDGE RESEARCH WITH STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS TO TACKLE SOCIETAL CHALLENGES. FOR US, INNOVATION IS PROGRESS, AND THROUGH SUSTAINABLE PARTNERSHIPS, WE STRIVE TO POSITIVELY IMPACT PEOPLE’S LIVES AND CONTRIBUTE TO A BETTER WORLD.”
Peter Schelkens,
Vice-rector Innovation & Industry Relations VUB
VUB INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH FUND 2024
Groups of Excellence in Applied Research or GEARs, supported by VUB’s Industrial Research Fund in 2024, performing research in domains below
Advanced GEARs (TRL 4-5-6):
· Photonics
· Electromobility
· Nanotools
Consolidator GEARs (TRL 3-4-5):
· Artificial Intelligence
· Sustainable Material Technologies
· Tech4Health
· Accoustics & Vibration
· INTEGRAL - Immunotherapy
· Law for Cybersecurity and Health
· Gene therapy
· Algorithmic systems
· House of Sustainable Transitions
· Liver research
· Human-centered Robotics
Starter GEARs (TRL 2-3):
· Peptidomimetic TheranOstics
· Industrial Food Biotechnology
· Software Systems
· Advance Imaging
· Microfluidics
· AI in Neurology, neurosurgery & psychiatry
· Sustainable Chemistry
VUB INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH FUND 2024 (IOF)
Fostering excellent applied research with economic potential
Budget acknowledged to GEARs: €6,443,838
Supporting 21 Groups of Excellence in Applied Research or GEARs
Go to our IOF portfolio: https://www.vubtechtransfer.be/industrial-research-fund-iof-research-groups-0
SUCCESSFUL EU INNOVATION DRIVEN CASES 2024
www.vubtechtransfer.be
SOCIAL SCIENCES & HUMANITIES
Prof. Dr. Jill Surmont, affiliated with the VUB’s Multidisciplinary Institute for Teacher Education (MILO), coordinates the Horizon Europe-funded consortium PLURIDENTITIES, short for “Protecting and Stimulating Plurilingual Identities in Learners in Europe via Inclusive Policies and Classroom Practices.” PLURIDENTITIES aims to protect and promote Europe’s linguistic capital, which faces challenges from the dominance of English as a lingua franca, the frequent exclusion of heritage languages in educational contexts, and the growing influence of new technologies such as ChatGPT.
To tackle these challenges, the consortium brings together experts in linguistics, teacher education, and political science from six partner institutions in five different countries: Belgium, Aruba, Sweden, Spain and the Netherlands.
VUB is coordinator
VUB budget: € 1,070,024
SCIENCE & ENGINEERING
Prof. Dr. Omar Hegazy, head of the EPOWERS Research Group at VUB, ETEC/ MOBI Research Centre, is leading the Europeanfunded international consortium
InnoBMS. This consortium aims to develop and demonstrate a cutting-edge battery management system (BMS) solution that maximizes battery use and performance for the user without negatively affecting battery lifespan. All this while continuously maintaining safety. InnoBMS consortium unites 13 international partners, combining the complementary expertise of renowned academic institutions and industry leaders. Leveraging this unique blend of knowledge and skills, the consortium will advance innovative solutions toward real-world applications, achieving Technology Readiness Level 6 (TRL). The project will showcase the solution’s capabilities in passenger cars and light-duty vehicles.
VUB is coordinator
VUB budget: € 761,638
LIFE SCIENCES
Prof. Dr. Mathieu Vinken, from the VUB Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, participates in the European-funded consortium
VICT3R. This consortium pioneers the use of Virtual Control Groups (VCGs) to minimize animal testing in toxicology research, marking a significant step forward in ethical and innovative drug and chemical safety evaluation. The VUB leads the consortium’s training activities, aimed at familiarizing consortium members, external stakeholders, and regulators with the VCG concept, placing particular emphasis on educating the next generation of young researchers. VICT3R brings together 33 partner organizations across academia and industry under the European Innovative Health Initiative (IHI).
VUB is partner
Total budget: € 637,250
www.vubtechtransfer.be
“AMIDST GLOBAL CHALLENGES, VUB REMAINS COMMITTED TO EXCELLENCE IN RESEARCH AND VALORISATION, FOSTERING SUSTAINABLE GROWTH, PROMOTING EQUALITY, WATCHING OVER WELL-BEING, ALWAYS KEEPING THE UN’S SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS IN MIND.”
Peter Schelkens, Vice-rector Innovation & Industry Relations
PHILANTHROPIC FUNDRAISING
THE VUB FOUNDATION RAISES PHILANTHROPIC FUNDS FROM COMPANIES, ORGANISATIONS, INSTITUTIONS AND INDIVIDUALS WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF THE TECHTRANSFER DEPARTMENT OF THE VICE-RECTORATE OF INNOVATION & INDUSTRY RELATIONS. THE VUB FOUNDATION COORDINATES ALL FUNDRAISING AT VUB UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF THE INNOVATION AND VALORISATION BOARD.
“THE POLICY OF THE VUB FOUNDATION IS BASED ON THE CONVICTION THAT FOR EACH PHILANTHROPIC CONTRIBUTION, THERE IS A SOCIETAL RETURN. EACH DONATION, SPONSORSHIP OR LEGACY SUPPORTS EDUCATION, RESEARCH AND/OR INNOVATION AT OUR UNIVERSITY. IT IS OUR AIM TO FIND THE PERFECT MATCH FOR EACH COMPANY, INSTITUTION OR PRIVATE INDIVIDUAL, WITHIN OUR RESEARCH GROUPS AND ACADEMIC INSTITUTION.“ VUB. EVERY DONATION RETURNS.
FELLOWSHIP
CONNECTING ACADEMIA & SOCIETY
MISSION
VUB fosters a network of fellows who connect academia with society. The interactions arising from this are of huge benefit for education, research, innovation, valorisation and policy. The VUB fellows are a diverse network of dedicated experts and leaders in their field who commit selflessly to the university and UZ Brussel. Thanks to their commitment, VUB can continue to evolve as an open institution connected with society and the business community.
FELLOWSHIP
To create a network of privileged VUB ambassadors who continue to challenge and inspire the university and UZ Brussel, and help propagate VUB’s ideology as a progressive institution of independent research and critical thinking.
THIS IS THE ESSENCE OF OUR FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM: MAKING ACADEMIC AND SOCIETAL TALENT WORK TOGETHER TO THE BENEFIT OF OUR STUDENTS AND RESEARCHERS, TO MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE: THANKS TO ALL OF YOU! SO, LET’S KEEP ON BUILDING!
Karsten De Clerck Chairman of the Board of VUB &
honorary fellow
CONNECTING ACADEMIA & SOCIETY 2025
FELLOWS
QUALITY
EMPLOYABILITY
FELLOWSHIP
THROUGH ACTIVITIES
(INTER)NATIONAL STUDENT INTERNSHIPS
NETWORKING
GUEST LECTURES
CULTURAL ENRICHMENT
COMPANY VISITS
MASTER THESIS GUIDANCE
SUPPORT OF RESEARCH
INFLUENCERS’ ROLE
GENERAL IT MANAGEMENT
GENERAL IT MANAGEMENT
• VUB manages 2 data centers
• Responsible for 30,000 user accounts
DATACENTER NEXUS
Datacenter Nexus is VUB’s modern, energyefficient facility where important IT services are hosted, including private cloud, research computing, and academic data storage.
GREEN AND CERTIFIED
• Holds 3 major certifications: BREEAM Excellent, EDGE Advanced, Uptime Institute Tier III
• Designed for maximum energy efficiency (PUE 1.2)
• Runs on 100% green energy, partly produced locally
• 2 high-performance computing clusters for research
• 3 petabytes of academic research data storage
NETWORK
• Internet speed up to 400 Gbit in the core network
• Over 120 km of fiber cables connecting the data centers
• Data is encrypted for security
COMPUTING FOR RESEARCHERS
Hydra is VUB’s Tier-2 High-Performance Computing cluster, available free for all VUB researchers via the Flemish Supercomputer Center.
CLUSTER SPECS
• 3,968 Central processing unit (CPU) cores
• 22 graphics processing unit (GPU) devices
• Compute power: 265 TFLOPS CPU, 236 TFLOPS GPU
• 660 TB scratch filesystem
USAGE HIGHLIGHTS 2024
• 2.6 centuries of single-core CPU compute time used
• 21.2 years of GPU compute time used
• 1,500,695 jobs executed
• 24% of jobs consumed 98% CPU and 96% GPU compute time
• 383 unique users active
• 237 new VUB accounts created at the Vlaams Supercomputer Centrum (Flemish Supercomputer Center)
MORE INFO: https://hpc.vub.be/news/2025/overview-of-2024/
APPLICATIONS
APPLICATIONS SERVERS
• 131 centralized applications
• 57% cloud vs 43% in house
• 35 team members in Applications department
• 75,828 lines of code in enrollment app
MICROSOFT
• 36,089 mailboxes
• 5M emails/month (4.4M read, 650K sent)
• 1,764 SharePoint sites with 16,000 active users
• 25K Teams meetings/month
• 650K Teams chat messages/month
• 10K direct Teams calls/month
243 Linux servers
188 Windows servers
DATA STORAGE
VUB uses two main systems for data storage:
• Microsoft: Cloud-based storage for Teams, mailboxes, and SharePoint.
• Pixiu: On-premises system for research data, fully managed by VUB.
MICROSOFT (CLOUD)
• 142.64 TB in SharePoint
• 534.41 TB in Teams
• 61.23 TB in mailboxes
PIXIU (LOCAL RESEARCH STORAGE)
• 2 PB total capacity, 1.6 PB in use
• Planned expansion to 4 PB
• Data mirrored across 2 datacenters
• 737 researchers, 92 accounts, 253 buckets
MORE INFO: https://hpc.vub.be/docs/pixiu/
UZ BRUSSEL UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL
UZ BRUSSEL UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL IN 2024
3,444 FTE STAFF MEMBERS
TAKING CARE OF A DIVERSE PUBLIC
Staff members of nearly 70 nationalities are taking care of a broad variety of patients of around 160 nationalities from all over the world.
INVESTMENTS
& ACTIVITIES
€62,6 million In 2024, UZ Brussel accounted for as many as 31,361 multiple day hospitalisations and 43,886 dayadmissions. A total of 463,607 consultations and 15,151 interventions took place. 77,836 patients came through the Emergency Department.
UZ BRUSSEL & FACULTY OF MEDICINE & PHARMACY
10
RESEARCH CLUSTERS
• Development, Ageing and Pathology
• Diabetes, Transplantation & Pathology
• Liver & Cell Biology and Toxicology
• Medical Imaging & Physical Sciences
• Neurosciences
• Oncology Research Centre
• Pharmaceutical Research and Data Technology
• Public Health
• Reproduction, Genetics and Regenerative Medicine
• Research Center for Cardiovascular Diseases
MORE SCIENTIFIC OUTPUT
1076 scientific papers published in the 2024 academic year by UZ Brussel & VUB Medicine & Pharmacy Faculty
QUALITY
UZ BRUSSEL AS PIONEER
LABEL FOR NUCLEAR MEDICINE
The Department of Nuclear Medicine received a top-tier quality label from EARL (EANM Research Ltd), acknowledging the reliability and high standard of its PET/CT imaging.
HEARTFLOW AWARD FOR CARDIAC CT IMAGING
THE RADIOLOGY DEPARTMENT AT UZ BRUSSEL
was the only European hospital to receive an award from HeartFlow, a Stanford University spin-off, in recognition of the outstanding quality of its cardiac CT scans. In 2024, 99.5% of all scans were deemed suitable for analysis—well above the required threshold of 92%.
41% OF WOMEN WHO USED FROZEN EGGS HAD A CHILD
According to the first Belgian study on social egg freezing, 41% of women who made use of their frozen eggs eventually had a child.
IVM JUST AS EFFECTIVE AS IVF IN WOMEN WITH PCOS
A recent study shows that in-vitro maturation (IVM) is as effective as conventional IVF for women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), but with fewer side effects. The procedure does not require hormonal hyperstimulation.
BRUSSELS
COLLABORATION IN ALZHEIMER’S
RESEARCH
Brussels universities and university hospitals have joined forces in the European PREDICTOM project. This AI-driven screening platform aims to detect Alzheimer’s disease at an early stage, using tools such as blood analysis.
BELGIUM’S FIRST WIRELESS ATRIAL PACEMAKER IMPLANTED
UZ Brussel was the first hospital in Belgium to successfully implant a wireless atrial pacemaker. This novel technology enables a less invasive treatment of atrial arrhythmias, without visible scarring and with fewer associated risks.
WORLD FIRST: DUAL ROBOTIC SURGERY FOR LYMPHEDEMA UZ BRUSSEL WAS THE FIRST HOSPITAL IN THE WORLD TO PERFORM A DUAL ROBOT-ASSISTED LYMPH NODE TRANSPLANT IN A PATIENT SUFFERING FROM LYMPHEDEMA FOLLOWING BREAST SURGERY. The intervention was carried out using two surgical robots operating simultaneously.
HIGH-TECH SURGICAL LOUPE WITH AUGMENTED REALITY UZ BRUSSEL WAS THE FIRST HOSPITAL IN BELGIUM to introduce a high-tech surgical loupe in plastic surgery. The device not only provides optical magnification but also projects real-time digital information directly into the surgeon’s field of view.
MORE ACCURATE EVALUATION OF BREAST-CONSERVING SURGERY
Thanks to a new imaging technique, UZ Brussel can immediately verify after a breast-conserving procedure whether all tumor cells have been removed. This helps to avoid unnecessary reoperations in patients with breast cancer.
NEW PERSPECTIVE FOR RECURRENT AGGRESSIVE BRAIN TUMOURS
An innovative cell therapy offers a new treatment option for patients with recurrent glioblastoma. Two years after treatment, one in four patients was still alive, compared to only 1% in the control group.
PROGRESS
IN TARGETED MELANOMA TREATMENT
Researchers at UZ Brussel achieved important progress in the targeted treatment of melanoma. They identified how a specific mutation activates tumour signalling and how this process can be effectively blocked.
IT’S A GREAT HONOR TO BE ABLE TO SAY THAT FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS, VUB AND UZ BRUSSEL HAVE BEEN MY PROFESSIONAL HOME. WITH THAT KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE, I TAKE ON THE ROLE OF CEO. AS A DUTCH-SPEAKING HOSPITAL IN BRUSSELS, ROOTED IN THE SECULAR AND HUMANISTIC VALUES OF VUB, WE HOLD A UNIQUE POSITION IN THE HEALTHCARE LANDSCAPE AND IT’S ONE THAT I WILL CONTINUE TO UPHOLD. THE ‘U’ IN UNIVERSITY IS CENTRAL TO THIS: WE FULLY COMMIT IN FOCUSING ON EXCELLENT PATIENT CARE, INNOVATIVE RESEARCH, AND HIGH-QUALITY EDUCATION. THESE THREE PILLARS ARE ESSENTIAL IN OUR VISION ON THE FUTURE OF HEALTHCARE.
In February 2025, Prof. Dr. Mark De Ridder was appointed as the new CEO of UZ Brussel. In a rapidly evolving healthcare landscape he aims to strengthen the unique role of UZ Brussel as a university hospital. His many years of experience at both the hospital and the Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy at VUB provide him with an excellent background to accomplish that an endeavor.
Prof. Mark De Ridder
CEO UZ Brussel
EUTOPIA EUROPEAN UNIVERSITY
EUTOPIA IN NUMBERS
76 Science and Innovation Fellows: EUTOPIA-SIF fellowships offer the opportunity for high-profile postdoctoral researchers to develop their own research project in the stimulating academic environment of the EUTOPIA Alliance.
63 Young Leader Academy Fellows: Members of the EUTOPIA Young Leaders Academy constitute a community of promising independent research leaders on the EUTOPIA scale, sharing and promoting European values and the EUTOPIA vision of an interconnected academic environment.
30
Connected Learning Communities, among which VUB leads: Technological Business Management - Sport for Social Change - Hackathon in Sustainable Transportation - Introduction to Artificial Intelligence - Legal History - Urban Education - Fairness, Equality & Ethics in Data Processing.
1 Joint Vision and Strategy for Human Resources, Inclusion, Global Partnerships, Science Diplomacy, Open Science & Citizen Science Life-long Learning, and European capacity building in Health.
30 Connected Communities: uniting our research and education ambitions, among which VUB leads: CLARITI Mathematics for Technology and Innovation - Digitisation for hydro-climatic risk reduction - Legal challenges and solutions for Mobile Individuals in a Changing World of Work
73 PhD co-tutelles: The EUTOPIA PhD co-tutelle program supports high-quality PhD projects in all research areas co-supervised by academics of 2 EUTOPIA member universities.
17Connected Research Communities, among which VUB leads: Trans-policy Perspectives on Transformation in Sovereignty - Photography & DissentSustainable European Private Law - Durable Materials.
CONNECTING COMMUNITIES WITHIN AND BEYOND EUROPE
VUB IS A PROUD PARTNER OF EUTOPIA EUROPEAN
UNIVERSITY
One of the first 17 alliances to be selected by the European Commission.
EUTOPIA revolves around Connected Communities: inter-institutional platforms uniting our joint research and curriculum innovation ambitions. Using a co-creative approach, the Connected Communities provide the best possible environment for students and researchers to promote critical thinking and transferable knowledge and skills on interdisciplinary topics of global relevance and societal impact. With our Connected Communities, EUTOPIA directly inspires the further roll-out and successful development of the European Higher Education and Research Areas and explicitly aims to be a driving force for continuous innovation.
“EUROPE, EUTOPIA, AND THE NEED FOR A NEW RENAISSANCE”
“IT IS THROUGH OUR EUTOPIA NETWORK THAT STUDENTS, RESEARCHERS AND PROFESSORS CAN GAIN NEW IDEAS AND NEW INSIGHTS. AND IT IS PRECISELY THROUGH THIS CONNECTIVITY BETWEEN OUR UNIVERSITIES, AND OUR STUDENTS, TOGETHER WITH CURIOSITY ABOUT THE WORLD, TOGETHER WITH OPENNESS AND FREE ENQUIRY, THAT WE CAN START WORKING ON A NEW RENAISSANCE IN EUROPE.”
rector Jan Danckaert
EUTOPIA EUROPEAN UNIVERSITY 2025 - 2026
EUTOPIA TOTAL STUDENTS
“JOINING FORCES TO BUILD A CONNECTED AND INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY, ADDRESSING GLOBAL AS WELL AS LOCAL CHALLENGES, ULTIMATELY BUILDING THE UNIVERSITY OF THE FUTURE.”
263,602 EUTOPIA TOTAL RESEARCH GROUPS
874
Reach and ambition spreads beyond Europe: EUTOPIA happily joins forces with its 6 global partners:
Université Internationale de Rabat (Morocco), Kyungpook National University (South Korea), Monash University (Australia), University of Stellenbosch (South Africa), Universidad de los Andes (Colombia), Arizona State University (USA).
Ten regionally and nationally distinct universities. Together, they form the EUTOPIA Alliance
Vrije Universiteit Brussel (Belgium)
CY Cergy Paris Université (France)
Göteborgs Universitet (Sweden)
Univerza v Ljubljani (Slovenia)
Universitat Pompeu Fabra (Spain)
University of Warwick (United Kingdom)
Ca’Foscari University Venice (Italy) *
Universidade Nova de Lisboa (Portugal) *
Technische Universität Dresden (Germany) *
Universitatea Babes Bolyai (Romania) *
*since autumn 2021
“EUTOPIA
IS NOT A PROJECT, IT’S A PROCESS OF TRANSFORMATION. WITH EUTOPIA, WE AIM TO INTERNATIONALIZE OUR CURRICULUM AND RESEARCH, ADDING A EUROPEAN LAYER TO ALL STUDENT AND STAFF EXPERIENCES”
Karin Vanderkerken, Vice-rector Internationalisation VUB
#ENGAGED UNIVERSITY
SUSTAINABLE UNIVERSITY
In setting up our Climate Action Plan, we charted all the greenhouse gases we emit, both our direct emissions (Scope 1) and our indirect emissions (Scopes 2 and 3).
Scope 1, 2 of 3?
Scope 1, 2 of 3?
In setting up our Climate Action Plan, we charted all the greenhouse gases we emit, both our direct emissions (Scope 1) and our indirect emissions (Scopes 2 and 3).
Scope 1, 2 of 3?
In setting up our Climate Action Plan, we charted all the greenhouse gases we emit, both our direct emissions (Scope 1) and our indirect emissions (Scopes 2 and 3).
In setting up our Climate Action Plan, we charted all the greenhouse gases we emit, both our direct emissions (Scope 1) and our indirect emissions (Scopes 2 and 3).
Scope 1:
SCOPE 1
Scope 1:
the direct emissions of greenhouse gases on our campuses through the use of fuels, gas and the release of refrigerant gases.
Direct emissions of greenhouse gases on our campuses through the use of fuels, gas and the release of refrigerant gases.
Scope 1: the direct emissions of greenhouse gases on our campuses through the use of fuels, gas and the release of refrigerant gases.
Scope 2 :
SCOPE 2
the direct emissions of greenhouse gases on our campuses through the use of fuels, gas and the release of refrigerant gases. Scope 2 : the indirect emissions of greenhouse gases through the consumption of purchased electricity that was produced elsewhere.
the indirect emissions of greenhouse gases through the consumption of purchased electricity that was produced elsewhere.
Indirect emissions of greenhouse gases through the consumption of purchased electricity that was produced elsewhere.
Scope 2 : the indirect emissions of greenhouse gases through the consumption of purchased electricity that was produced elsewhere.
Scope 3: all other indirect emissions mainly from:
Scope 3:
all other indirect emissions mainly from:
Belgian Alliance for Climate Action
Belgian Alliance for Climate Action
Belgian Alliance for Climate Action
SCOPE 3
Scope 3: all other indirect emissions mainly from:
• mobility, in particular, commuting and the international travel of staff and students;
• mobility, in particular, commuting and the international travel of staff and students;
All other indirect emissions, mainly from:
• mobility, in particular, commuting and the international travel of staff and students;
• production of purchased materials such as equipment, ICT hardware, materials, chemicals, consumables, food for the student restaurants etc.;
• mobility, in particular, commuting and the international travel of staff and students
• production of purchased materials such as equipment, ICT hardware, materials, chemicals, consumables, food for the student restaurants etc.;
• waste processing;
• construction and renovation of buildings and paved surfaces;
• waste processing;
• production of purchased materials such as equipment, ICT hardware, materials, chemicals, consumables, food for the student restaurants etc.;
• production of purchased materials such as equipment, ICT hardware, materials, chemicals, consumables, food for the student restaurants, etc.
• construction and renovation of buildings and paved surfaces;
• investment portfolio.
• waste processing;
• waste processing
• investment portfolio.
The subdivision into scopes stems from the Greenhouse Gas Protocol.
• construction and renovation of buildings and paved surfaces;
• construction and renovation of buildings and paved surfaces
• investment portfolio.
Efforts by companies and organisations are crucial if we are to reduce the global emissions of greenhouse gases. So the VUB has affiliated itself with the Belgian Alliance for Climate Action (BACA), a national initiative that invites organisations to set up ambitious climate plans. The goal is to set science-based targets. Those are scientifically backed and measurable CO2 reduction goals with which we bring our operations in line with the primary goal of the Paris Climate Agreement: restricting global warming to 1.5°C. For the VUB, that means that we measure our carbon footprint and subsequently take measures to reduce our CO2 emissions as much as possible.
• investment portfolio
The subdivision into scopes stems from the Greenhouse Gas Protocol.
The subdivision into scopes stems from the Greenhouse Gas Protocol.
Efforts by companies and organisations are crucial if we are to reduce the global emissions of greenhouse gases. So the VUB has affiliated itself with the Belgian Alliance for Climate Action (BACA), a national initiative that invites organisations to set up ambitious climate plans. The goal is to set science-based targets. Those are scientifically backed and measurable CO2 reduction goals with which we bring our operations in line with the primary goal of the Paris Climate Agreement: restricting global warming to 1.5°C. For the VUB, that means that we measure our carbon footprint and subsequently take measures to reduce our CO2 emissions as much as possible.
Efforts by companies and organisations are crucial if we are to reduce the global emissions of greenhouse gases. So the VUB has affiliated itself with the Belgian Alliance for Climate Action (BACA), a national initiative that invites organisations to set up ambitious climate plans. The goal is to set science-based targets. Those are scientifically backed and measurable CO2 reduction goals with which we bring our operations in line with the primary goal of the Paris Climate Agreement: restricting global warming to 1.5°C. For the VUB, that means that we measure our carbon footprint and subsequently take measures to reduce our CO2 emissions as much as possible.
The subdivision into scopes stems from the Greenhouse Gas Protocol.
SUSTAINABLE UNIVERSITY
SUSTAINABLE UNIVERSITY
SUSTAINABLE UNIVERSITY 2024
CONSUMPTION BASED ON TYPE OF MENU
1. Meat 53%
2. Veggie/vegan 27%
3. Fish 20%
MOST POPULAR DISHES
(> 500 servings a day in 2024)
1. Fish&Chips
2. Pulled pork taco
3. Crispy chicken fillet
4. Calamares alla Romana
5. Turkey durum
MOST POPULAR VEGETARIAN DISHES
(> 250 servings a day in 2024)
1. Spaghetti Bolognese
2. Pasta with 4-cheese sauce
3. Albondigas with patatas bravas
4. Cheese croquettes
5. Falafel wrap
NUMBER OF CLUB SANDWICHES SOLD
RESTAURANT
New since 2022: vegan muffins
New since 2023: vegan coffee milk
New since 2024: daily (vegan) spaghetti bolognaise
New since 2025: deelname greendeal eiwitshift op ons bord 2.0
SUSTAINABLE UNIVERSITY 2024
FAIRTRADE PRODUCTS
PORTIONS PER SERVING
meat: 150g
vegetables: 200g or more if wished for fish: 150g
EXPERIMENTS
MORE FRUIT EXPERIMENT
Testing the effect of nudges on fruit purchase
RESTAURANT
Experiment based on the renewed Flemish Food Pyramid
Fairtrade products coffee, juices, crisps and chocolate
*average/day
WASTE REDUCTION IN THE KITCHEN
• Waste management through recovery of surplus food by rapid chilling
• Monitoring through periodic weighing
• Action: ‘take all you can eat, but eat all you take’ (leftovers are weighed and communicated)
LOW IMPACT WEEK
Use the Ecotarian app to discover how eco-friendly your lunch is and what impact it has on global warming
Introduction of Freestyle devices for
purchasing soft drinks with fewer packages. Introduction ecolabels on menu site and screens at resto.
Participation veggie challenge and try vegan.
· Disposable coffee cup replaced by Billie Cup
· Take-away re-usable (hot) food packaging system KioBox
COMPASSIONATE UNIVERSITY
DECLARATION OF INTENT
On 19 November 2019, our university signed a declaration of intent to become a Compassionate University. By doing so, we officially underline our commitment to make everyone within our community aware of the importance of support and compassion in times of serious illness, death, dying and loss.
RESPONDING TO SERIOUS ILLNESS, CAREGIVING, DEATH, AND GRIEF
PLACES OF SOLACE
An annual remembrance ceremony is held at the Monument of Comfort for staff and students who have passed away or who are facing difficult situations.
RAISING AWARENESS THROUGH COMPASSIONATE ACTIONS
Staff training, research seminars and workshops, Compassionate Week
https://www.vub.be/en/compassionate-university
INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH PROGRAMME (IRP)
Compassionate Communities Center of Expertise (COCO)
The Compassionate Communities Center of Expertise (COCO) wants to do pioneering work through developing, implementing and evaluating the Compassionate Communities model in Flanders, Belgium, Europe and even further. It is carrying out an extensive and interdisciplinary research programme which links fundamental research and action research. The main goal of COCO is researching the processes that lead to the successful development of a Compassionate Community in different contexts.
https://coco.research.vub.be/
FINANCES
BALANCE SHEET 2024
Karsten De Clerck, Chairman of the Board of VUB
BALANCE SHEET 2024
PROFIT & LOSS STATEMENT 2024
VUB – URBAN, ENGAGED UNIVERSITY
“VUB HAS CLEARLY CHOSEN TO BE AN ACTIVE PART OF OUR BRUSSELS METROPOLITAN ENVIRONMENT. BRUSSELS IS A GREAT LIVING LAB FOR OUR RESEARCHERS AND FOR OUR STUDENTS. WE ARE AN URBAN ENGAGED UNIVERSITY.”
